Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 18 November 1999

Scottish Executive

Enterprise

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the extension to small to medium businesses in Scotland which are not limited liability companies of benefits under the new enterprise management incentive scheme allowing tax relief on share options granted to key managers of small companies.

Henry McLeish: Enterprise Management Incentives will allow small higher risk companies to grant tax advantaged share options to up to 10 key employees with the essential skills vital to the company's growth. The incentives will be based on the award of share options, and this means it will only be possible for enterprises with a share structure to take part.

Europe

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further plans to promote its Scotland in Europe campaign.

Donald Dewar: Scotland's future is important in Europe. The Executive will continue to work to get Scotland the best possible deal out of Europe, supported and strengthened by being in Europe as part of the UK. The recently opened Scotland House is an important part of that. The promotion of the Scotland in Europe campaign is a matter for the members of that campaign.

Exports

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors explain the 30% decrease in the value of manufactured drink exports in the year 1999 Q2 announced in News Release SE1161/1999, and what level of confidence it has in the accuracy of these figures.

Henry McLeish: A significant factor affecting this decline is likely to have been the decrease in world markets during this period, especially that resulting from the economic crisis in East Asia in 1998. This particularly affected whisky exports, which were especially strong in this market.

  The decrease in the value of manufactured drink exports during the period is also a reflection of the historically high levels of drink exports during 1997. However, current levels are still above those in 1995.

  The Scottish Executive is confident in the accuracy of these figures. They are produced by members of the Government Statistical Service and are based on data collected by the Office for National Statistics. The series is derived from a sample of drink manufacturers covering an average of over 90% of total turnover in this industry between the first quarter of 1995 and the second quarter of 1999.

Exports

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain in detail how the method used to deflate the total manufactured export figures (for the latest four quarters compared to the previous four quarters) as published in its press release of 3 November, could transform a small cash term rise in total exports into one 10 times as large in real prices.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive’s Scottish manufactured export figures are produced by members of the Government Statistical Service using data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

  The series for manufactured exports in real prices is derived at the five digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) level by deflating each current price series at that level using the appropriate ONS UK Export Producer Price Index. This enables aggregate series for Scottish manufactured exports to be derived at 1995 prices.

  The comparison of the aggregate current and real price export series at 1995 prices generates an implied producer price index for Scottish manufactured exports as a whole. This is shown in the table below for the period 1995 quarter one to 1999 quarter two.

 Implied Scottish Export Producer Price Index (1995=100)  1995  100.0 1996  98.6 1997  93.0 1998  87.2 1995   1   100.0 1995   2   99.7 1995   3   100.2 1995   4   100.1 1996   1   101.5 1996   2   99.6 1996   3   98.6 1996   4   95.1 1997   1   93.4 1997   2   94.0 1997   3   93.8 1997   4   91.1 1998   1   88.8 1998   2   88.2 1998   3   87.7 1998   4   84.8 1999   1   84.9 1999   2   85.1

First Minister

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2238 by Donald Dewar on 28 October 1999, what specific matters of mutual interest were discussed at the last meeting between the First Minister and the Prime Minister and what specific matters will be discussed at the next meeting.

Donald Dewar: The details of these discussions are private.

Fisheries

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to alter the Scottish salmon fishing season from February until October to March until November in order to take account of climatic change over recent years altering the life cycle of Scottish salmon.

Mr John Home Robertson: Salmon stocks, as measured by annual catches, continue to decline throughout the range of the species. This has led to advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) urging caution in the exploitation of both early-running multi-sea winter (MSW) salmon and later running one-sea winter (1SW) salmon. In the circumstances, alteration of the fishing season as suggested would lead to increased exploitation of a diminishing resource, and therefore the Scottish Executive have no plans to extend the autumn fishing season.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to lift the restrictions on scallop farms that have fallen within the permitted toxin level on two consecutive tests.

Susan Deacon: This is the general rule operated. However, if toxin levels remain above the statutory limit in adjacent waters additional data will be required.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1010 by Susan Deacon on 6 October 1999, whether the location of each new trial site for genetically modified crops will be brought to the attention of the Parliament before any final decision is taken.

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1010 by Susan Deacon on 6 October 1999, whether it will list any sites which are currently being considered as trial sites for genetically modified crops and where they are situated.

Susan Deacon: It is for Scottish Ministers to decide whether or not to grant consents for Scottish trial sites of genetically modified (GM) crops.

  Site locations related to applications are publicly available, as are locations of sites with consent. In addition applicants must advertise their intention to plant GM crops in the local press within 10 days of submitting their application.

  The most up to date site information relating to applications and consents was provided in the answer to question S1W-1010.

Health

Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to evaluate how widespread the use of lead solder within domestic drinking water is.

Susan Deacon: Yes. A survey is being arranged to establish whether the use of lead solder in cold water plumbing is widespread in houses recently completed in Scotland.

Health

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Age of Legal Capacity Act (1996) affords children under 16 the right to request a medical, dental or eye examination without parental consent.

Susan Deacon: The Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 allows a person under the age of 16 years to consent to any surgical, medical or dental procedure or treatment where, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner attending him, he is capable of understanding the nature and possible consequences of the procedure or treatment. This envisages a situation where it may not be necessary to obtain parental consent if the child has sufficient understanding, a qualified medical practitioner is present and there are no other legal constraints on that consent.

  Under the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1986, the parent, guardian or other adult person who has charge of a child under 16 must apply for an eye examination on that child's behalf.

Health

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the planned percentage increase in the health budget in 2000-01 in real terms.

Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the tables issued to MSPs on 6 October following the Minister of Finance’s announcement to Parliament of the Executive’s proposed spending revisions. Figures for real terms spending on the health budget were included in those tables. The provision for 1999-2000 includes £139 million end-year flexibility carried forward from 1998-99. It is necessary to exclude this element of provision to compare like with like. On that basis there is a real terms increase of 3.7% in the health budget in 2000-01.

Health

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the overall health budget is accounted for by labour costs, broken down by staff type and grade for the current financial year.

Susan Deacon: The table below shows salaries and wages expenditure for Health Boards, NHS Trusts, Common Services Agency, State Hospital, Health Education Board for Scotland, and Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education for 1998-99 by staff type, and as a percentage of total health revenue expenditure.

  The information has been taken from the annual accounts of the health bodies. Data for the current financial year is not available.

  


STAFF TYPE 


£ 


% 




Medical and Dental 
  

419,349,369 
  

8.6 
  



Nursing 
  

1,006,462,389 
  

20.7 
  



Professional & Technical 
  

360,408,479 
  

7.4 
  



Administrative and Clerical 
  

305,991,943 
  

6.3 
  



Domestic and Ancillary 
  

121,563,888 
  

2.5 
  



Tradesmen 
  

27,459,611 
  

0.6 
  



TOTAL 
  

2,241,235,679 
  

46.1 
  



Total revenue expenditure 
  

4,858,030,473

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that those who suffer from post-meningitis illnesses receive adequate healthcare.

Susan Deacon: The consequences of meningitis are varied. Those patients who have suffered from meningitis and have continuing health care needs are treated by the most appropriate part of the NHS in Scotland

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial statement by Susan Deacon on 27 October 1999, whether the funding for the meningitis C vaccination programme is intended to be targeted exclusively on a programme of vaccination and, if not, whether it will itemise the full remit of that funding by health board area and budget.

Susan Deacon: The cost of vaccine will be met centrally. Additional funding will be provided to health boards towards the cost of delivering immunisation to students and school pupils. General practitioners who immunise babies and young children, or students, will receive an item of service payment for each vaccination.

Health

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that land originally set aside for Phase Three of the Queen Margaret Hospital has now been sold off by Fife Health Board and, if so, for what amount and to whom.

Susan Deacon: In terms of land originally set aside for Phase Three of Queen Margaret Hospital, there has been no sale of land on this site. The Trust notes however that there is land available on this site for future development.

Health

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost Fife Health Board to establish one ambulatory care hospital and one non-ambulatory hospital in Fife.

Susan Deacon: Fife Health Board indicates that work on the options for the future provision of acute services in Fife is ongoing. This work will identify the costing of the possible options.

Health

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what were the details of the funding packages, in terms of both annual amounts and percentage changes between years, provided to Fife Health Board over the past three financial years, and projected for the next two financial years.

Susan Deacon: The information is set out in the following table: -

  


Year 


£000 


% Change 
  




1997-98 
  

261,681 
  

4.31 
  



1998-99 
  

276,067 
  

5.49 
  



1999-2000 
  

290,922 
  

5.38 
  



2000-01 
  

306,994 
  

5.52 
  



2001-02 
  

326,431 
  

6.33

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is currently being spent in Scotland on research into prostate cancer.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Executive is not currently funding any research projects specifically on prostate cancer. However, in 1998-99, 20 cancer-related research projects with a total value of nearly £2.2 million were being funded by CSO. Many of the findings of these projects will have a relevance to prostate cancer.

  CSO also funds research indirectly which may have a relevance to prostate cancer. It is estimated that £4.7 million of the general funding allocated to the NHS in Scotland for research was used in support of cancer studies.

  The main agency through which the UK Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which is estimated to spend some £15 million per year directly on research into cancer.

Health

Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the amount saved on prescription fraud since patients were required to provide evidence of entitlement to exemption from prescription charges in January 1998.

Susan Deacon: Checks of entitlement to free prescriptions (point of dispensing checks) were introduced as a deterrent to fraud against the NHS. Patients have been asked by community pharmacists to provide proof of entitlement since January 1999, and by dispensing doctors since August 1999.

  It is too early to quantify savings arising from these arrangements, not least because income from prescription charges is subject to a variety of influences. However, although increased income cannot be attributed solely to the introduction of point of dispensing checks, this is likely to be a factor. Since their introduction there has been an increase in the number of prescriptions on which charges have been paid, and in the number of prescription prepayment certificates (season tickets) issued.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what action it is taking to limit the risk of disease exposure from blood products factors VIII and IX produced from large donor pools of up to 20,000 donors and (b) what consideration it gave to the risk from the imported blood and blood products which use blood from the paid donor clinics in the United States.

Susan Deacon: The coagulation factor concentrates prepared by SNBTS use only plasma collected from healthy volunteer unpaid donors from three centres in the US and one in Germany. SNBTS and the Medicine Control Agency have rigorously audited these centres and volunteers must meet rigid health checks.

  Each donation is tested for a wide range of markers of infectivity and any donation which tests positive is rejected. Samples of pooled donations, of approximately 5,000 donations, are further tested on arrival at the SNBTS Protein Fractionation Centre and any which test positive are discarded.

  The manufacturing processes used to make current batches of coagulation factor concentrates are all carefully designed to ensure that infective agents are eliminated.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it can provide on research into motor neurone disease.

Susan Deacon: We are aware of eight current research studies in Scotland into various aspects of motor neurone disease. Throughout the UK, there are 29 such studies which are ongoing.

  Details of these studies are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Justice

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why no Scottish Minister or official Scottish representative attended the fifty strong UK delegation to the two day justice seminar in Tampere, Finland in view of Scotland’s distinct and separate legal system.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Special European Council at Tampere on 15-16 October was a meeting of European Union heads of government. The Scottish Executive was fully involved in the United Kingdom’s preparations for the Council, in accordance with the terms of the EU Concordat. The Scottish Executive does, of course, maintain regular contact with Whitehall and I recently had a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss the follow up to Tampere and other topical justice and home affairs issues.

Public Appointments

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of women appointments to public bodies.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is committed to strengthening the current levels of women’s representation on public bodies. The Scottish Executive has retained the targets set by the previous Scottish Office of increasing the proportion of women appointees from the 1998 level of 47% to 50% by 2002, and of increasing the proportion of bodies chaired by women from 22% to 35% over the same period. We are currently reviewing systems for appointment, including measures to improve women’s representation, and I shall be making a statement in due course.

Rural Affairs

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2027 by Ross Finnie on 28 October 1999, why the priority areas for funding as announced on 1 October 1999 have been decided prior to the consultation process described in that answer.

Ross Finnie: There was no question of the priority areas for funding being decided on 1 October. The purpose of the consultation announced on that day was to seek views on the priorities to be used. We are now considered the views expressed and announced on 16 November that applications relating to new measures made available from 31 March 1999 and projects relating to self-standing systems for the storage and disposal of farm waste will be given priority.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place between itself and the Department for Education and Employment in relation to the submission of evidence to the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive was sent a copy of the DfEE paper to check for factual accuracy in relation to Scotland before it was submitted to the Committee.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the total cost to date of the Ossian Project and what is the cost of the report by Deloitte & Touche.

Henry McLeish: The total cost of the Ossian Project in the period to 31 March 2000 is estimated to be £5.1 million. The cost of the Deloitte & Touche consultancy study is £48,250 excluding VAT.

Transport

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Chief Executive of Caledonian MacBrayne and what issues were discussed.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave George Lyon MSP (S1O-647).

Water

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet with representatives of the North of Scotland Water Authority.

Sarah Boyack: There are regular contacts, in person or by telephone, at both official and Ministerial levels.